News Desk: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has offered some unexpected views on prominent political and corporate figures in his upcoming book, Bodh Kirtan, which is scheduled to be launched on Saturday in the presence of the Thackeray brothers. The book brings together his personal experiences, encounters and reflections on several well-known personalities, including fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
One of the most striking sections of the book is a chapter titled Mallya Chi Gosht (Mallya's Story), in which Raut defends the former Kingfisher Airlines chairman. Rejecting the description of Mallya as a fraud, Raut argues that the businessman should not be judged solely by the circumstances surrounding the collapse of his airline and the unpaid loans.
Raut writes that he knew Mallya personally through their interactions in Parliament and meetings in the Central Hall. Describing him as approachable, cheerful and generous, Raut says Mallya had a strong personality and an open-minded attitude. He also suggests that Mallya's extravagant lifestyle was partly connected to the demands of his business rather than simply reflecting personal excess.
According to Raut, Mallya had a greater sense of patriotism than many parliamentarians and never intended to cheat anyone. He disputes the description of Mallya as a fugitive, arguing that the businessman left India when his business was facing a serious financial crisis and mounting loan liabilities.
Raut also questions the way banks handled Mallya's financial difficulties. He believes financial institutions should have supported him during the crisis instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate. He further claims that Mallya was seeking temporary relief from loan repayments rather than a complete bailout.
Mallya, who left India in 2016, currently lives in the United Kingdom. He was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in 2019 in connection with alleged financial irregularities, loan defaults and money laundering. India has been pursuing his extradition.
Interestingly, Raut also has words of praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In another chapter, titled Deepstambha, he distinguishes between Modi's political and non-political speeches. While expressing reservations about the depth and impact of some of the Prime Minister's political addresses, Raut describes his non-political speeches as engaging and memorable.
He particularly appreciates Modi's address during the Ayodhya Deepotsav celebrations, saying the Prime Minister presented the ideals of Lord Ram in an emotional and inspiring manner.
The contrasting observations on Mallya and Modi make Raut's upcoming book particularly noteworthy, offering readers an unconventional glimpse into his personal assessments of influential figures.
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